Joshua 13:7 Study Bible: Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh: from the Jordan as far as the great sea toward the setting of the sun, you are to give it; the great sea will be the boundary.

◄ Joshua 13:7 ►

Now therefore divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh."

Now therefore divide this land
This command follows the conquest of Canaan, where Joshua is instructed to allocate the land among the tribes of Israel. The division of the land signifies the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham regarding the inheritance of the land (Genesis 15:18-21). The act of dividing the land is both a practical and spiritual task, symbolizing God's faithfulness and the establishment of Israel as a nation.

as an inheritance
The concept of inheritance is central to Israel's understanding of the land. It is not merely a possession but a divine gift, a perpetual legacy from God to His people. This inheritance is tied to the covenant relationship between God and Israel, emphasizing the land's sacredness and the responsibility of the tribes to maintain their covenantal obligations (Deuteronomy 4:21).

to the nine tribes
The nine tribes refer to those who will receive their inheritance west of the Jordan River. This includes the tribes of Judah, Simeon, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, and Zebulun. Each tribe's portion is determined by lot, a practice that underscores God's sovereignty in the distribution (Numbers 26:55-56).

and the half-tribe of Manasseh
The half-tribe of Manasseh, along with Reuben and Gad, had already received their inheritance east of the Jordan River (Numbers 32:33). However, the other half of Manasseh is to receive land west of the Jordan. This division reflects the unique situation of the tribe of Manasseh, which is split between two regions, highlighting the flexibility and complexity of tribal inheritances in Israel's history.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Joshua
The leader of Israel after Moses, tasked with leading the Israelites into the Promised Land and dividing it among the tribes.

2. Nine Tribes and the Half-Tribe of Manasseh
These are the tribes of Israel that were to receive their inheritance west of the Jordan River. The half-tribe of Manasseh, along with Reuben and Gad, had already received their inheritance east of the Jordan.

3. The Promised Land
The land of Canaan, which God promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It represents God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises.

4. Inheritance
The division of the land among the tribes of Israel, which was a fulfillment of God's covenant promise to Abraham.

5. Canaan
The land that the Israelites were to possess, which was inhabited by various Canaanite tribes before the conquest.

Teaching Points

God's Faithfulness
God's promises are sure and steadfast. Just as He fulfilled His promise to give Israel the land, He will fulfill His promises to us.

Inheritance in Christ
As the Israelites received a physical inheritance, believers receive a spiritual inheritance in Christ. Reflect on what it means to be co-heirs with Christ.

Leadership and Obedience
Joshua's role as a leader required obedience to God's commands. Consider how leadership in our lives requires us to follow God's guidance.

Divine Timing
The division of the land happened in God's perfect timing. Trust in God's timing for the promises He has made to you.

Community and Unity
The division of the land required cooperation among the tribes. Reflect on the importance of unity and community in the body of Christ.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does Joshua 13:7 demonstrate God's faithfulness to His promises, and how can this encourage us in our personal walk with God?

2. In what ways does the concept of inheritance in Joshua 13:7 parallel the spiritual inheritance we have in Christ?

3. What can we learn from Joshua's leadership in dividing the land that applies to our roles in leadership today?

4. How does the division of the land among the tribes of Israel illustrate the importance of unity and cooperation within the church?

5. Reflect on a promise from God that you are waiting to see fulfilled. How does Joshua 13:7 encourage you to trust in God's timing?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Genesis 12:7
God's promise to Abraham about giving his descendants the land of Canaan, which is being fulfilled in Joshua 13:7.

Numbers 34:13-29
Details the boundaries of the land and the leaders appointed to distribute the inheritance among the tribes.

Deuteronomy 1:8
Moses reminds the Israelites of God's promise to give them the land, urging them to take possession of it.

Hebrews 4:8-10
Discusses the rest that Joshua provided, which is a foreshadowing of the ultimate rest found in Christ.

Sermons

God Takes Note of Our ,Failing Strength	J. Parker, D.D.	Joshua 13:1-33
Joshua's Old Age	W. G. Blaikie, D. D.	Joshua 13:1-33
More Beyond		Joshua 13:1-33
On Progress in Religion	W. Jay.	Joshua 13:1-33
Territory Yet to be Taken by the Church	W. Seaton.	Joshua 13:1-33
The Christian's Work	T. Guthrie, D. D.	Joshua 13:1-33
The Uncompleted Work	F. B. Meyer, B. A.	Joshua 13:1-33
Unconquered Territory	Charles Vince.	Joshua 13:1-33
The Land Allotted, Though not Yet Secured	R. Glover	Joshua 13:2, 7

People

Ammonites, Amorites, Arah, Ashdodites, Ashdothites, Ashkelonites, Avites, Avvites, Balaam, Beor, Canaanites, Debir, Ekronites, Eshkalonites, Evi, Gad, Gadites, Gazathites, Gazites, Gebalites, Geshurites, Giblites, Gittites, Hur, Israelites, Jair, Joshua, Levi, Maacah, Maacathites, Maachathites, Machir, Machirites, Manasseh, Og, Reba, Rekem, Rephaites, Reuben, Reubenites, Sidonians, Sihon, Zereth, Zidonians, Zur

Places

Aphek, Aroer, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ashtaroth, Baal-gad, Bamoth-baal, Bashan, Beth-baal-meon, Beth-baal-peor, Beth-haram, Beth-jeshimoth, Beth-nimrah, Betonim, Debir, Dibon, Edrei, Egypt, Ekron, Gath, Gaza, Geshur, Gilead, Heshbon, Jahaz, Jair, Jazer, Jericho, Jordan River, Kedemoth, Kiriathaim, Lebanon, Lebo-hamath, Maacath, Mahanaim, Mearah, Medeba, Mephaath, Midian, Misrephoth-maim, Moab, Mount Hermon, Pisgah, Rabbah, Ramath-mizpeh, Salecah, Sea of Chinnereth, Shihor, Sibmah, Succoth, Tirzah, Valley of the Arnon, Zaphon, Zereth-shahar

Topics

Apportion, Divide, Division, Half, Half-tribe, Heritage, Inheritance, Manasseh, Manas'seh, Nine, Tribe, Tribes

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Joshua 13:1-33

5235 boundary

Joshua 13:6-7

7266 tribes of Israel

Library

October 2. "Moses Gave not any Inheritance; the Lord God of Israel was their Inheritance, as He Said unto Them" (Josh. xiii. 33).
"Moses gave not any inheritance; the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance, as He said unto them" (Josh. xiii. 33). This is very significant. God gave the land to the other tribes but He gave Himself to the Levites. There is such a thing in Christian life as an inheritance from the Lord, and there is such a thing as having the Lord Himself for our inheritance. Some people get a sanctification from the Lord which is of much value, but which is variable, and often impermanent. Others have learned …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Unwon but Claimed
'There remaineth yet very much land to be possessed, ... them will I drive out from before the children of Israel; only divide thou it by lot unto Israel for an inheritance'--Joshua xiii. 1-8. Joshua was now a very old man and had occupied seven years in the conquest. His work was over, and now he had only to take steps to secure the completion by others of the triumph which he would never see. This incident has many applications to the work of the Church in the world, but not less important ones …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Great Part of South Judea Cut Off under the Second Temple. Jewish Idumean.
The Talmudic girdle ends, as you see, in "Kadesh, Barnea, and Ascalon." Hence it cannot but be observed, that these two places are placed, as it were, in parallel; and whatsoever space lies between Ascalon and the river of Egypt, is excluded,--to wit, fifty-four miles. And one might, indeed, almost see some footsteps of that exclusion under the first Temple, in that very common expression, "From Dan even to Beer-sheba." This country, that was excluded, was something barren. The Talmudists speak thus …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The Birth of Jesus.
(at Bethlehem of Judæa, b.c. 5.) ^C Luke II. 1-7. ^c 1 Now it came to pass in those days [the days of the birth of John the Baptist], there went out a decree [a law] from Cæsar Augustus [Octavius, or Augustus, Cæsar was the nephew of and successor to Julius Cæsar. He took the name Augustus in compliment to his own greatness; and our month August is named for him; its old name being Sextilis], that all the world should be enrolled. [This enrollment or census was the first step …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The River of Egypt, Rhinocorura. The Lake of Sirbon.
Pliny writes, "From Pelusium are the intrenchments of Chabrias: mount Casius: the temple of Jupiter Casius: the tomb of Pompey the Great: Ostracine: Arabia is bounded sixty-five miles from Pelusium: soon after begins Idumea and Palestine from the rising up of the Sirbon lake." Either my eyes deceive me, while I read these things,--or mount Casius lies nearer Pelusium, than the lake of Sirbon. The maps have ill placed the Sirbon between mount Casius and Pelusium. Sirbon implies burning; the name of …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Joshua
The book of Joshua is the natural complement of the Pentateuch. Moses is dead, but the people are on the verge of the promised land, and the story of early Israel would be incomplete, did it not record the conquest of that land and her establishment upon it. The divine purpose moves restlessly on, until it is accomplished; so "after the death of Moses, Jehovah spake to Joshua," i. 1. The book falls naturally into three divisions: (a) the conquest of Canaan (i.-xii.), (b) the settlement of the …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links

Joshua 13:7 NIV
Joshua 13:7 NLT
Joshua 13:7 ESV
Joshua 13:7 NASB
Joshua 13:7 KJV

Joshua 13:7 Commentaries

Bible Hub